Drug suspension will define A-Rod's career

NEW YORK (AP) — On the day Alex Rodriguez was the No. 1 pick in the baseball draft two decades ago, his high school coach predicted a flashy future.

Kathy Willens

FILE - In this April 13, 2013, file photo, New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez sits in the dugout during a baseball game at Yankee Stadium in New York. Rodriguez sued Major League Baseball and Commissioner Bud Selig in a lawsuit, filed Thursday, Oct. 3, 2013, in New York State Supreme Court, accusing them of pursuing "vigilante justice" as part of a "witch hunt" designed to smear the character of the Yankees star and cost him tens of millions of dollars. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)

FILE - In this April 13, 2013, file photo, New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez sits in the dugout during a baseball game at Yankee Stadium in New York. Rodriguez sued Major League Baseball and Commissioner Bud Selig in a lawsuit, filed Thursday, Oct. 3, 2013, in New York State Supreme Court, accusing them of pursuing "vigilante justice" as part of a "witch hunt" designed to smear the character of the Yankees star and cost him tens of millions of dollars. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)

FILE - In this Aug. 2, 2013, file photo, New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez answers questions from reporters during a news conference following a Class AA baseball game with the Trenton Thunder against the Reading Phillies, in Trenton, N.J. Three MVP awards, 14 All-Star selections, two record-setting contracts and countless controversies later, A-Rod is the biggest and wealthiest target of an investigation into performance-enhancing drugs, with a decision from baseball Commissioner Bud Selig expected on Monday, Aug. 5, 2013. (AP Photo/Tom Mihalek, File)

FILE - In this Oct. 14, 2012, file photo, New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez takes off his batting gloves after striking out in the fourth inning of Game 2 of the American League championship baseball series against the Detroit Tigers in New York. Three MVP awards, 14 All-Star selections, two record-setting contracts and countless controversies later, A-Rod is the biggest and wealthiest target of an investigation into performance-enhancing drugs, with a decision from baseball Commissioner Bud Selig expected on Monday, Aug. 5, 2013. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)

FILE - In this Aug. 4, 2010, file photo, fans cheer as New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez follows through after hitting his 600th career home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium in New York. Three MVP awards, 14 All-Star selections, two record-setting contracts and countless controversies later, A-Rod is the biggest and wealthiest target of an investigation into performance-enhancing drugs, with a decision from baseball Commissioner Bud Selig expected on Monday, Aug. 5, 2013. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)

FILE - In this Nov. 4, 2009, file photo, New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez celebrates after winning the Major League Baseball World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies in New York. Three MVP awards, 14 All-Star selections, two record-setting contracts and countless controversies later, A-Rod is the biggest and wealthiest target of an investigation into performance-enhancing drugs, with a decision from baseball Commissioner Bud Selig expected on Monday, Aug. 5, 2013. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)

FILE - In this Nov. 2, 2009, file photo, a spectator holds up a sign as New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez warms up in the batters' circle during the fifth inning of Game 5 of the Major League Baseball World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies in Philadelphia. Three MVP awards, 14 All-Star selections, two record-setting contracts and countless controversies later, A-Rod is the biggest and wealthiest target of an investigation into performance-enhancing drugs, with a decision from baseball Commissioner Bud Selig expected on Monday, Aug. 5, 2013. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)

FILE - In this Feb. 17, 2009, file photo, New York Yankees baseball player Alex Rodriguez looks up towards photographers after leaving a baseball news conference at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla. Three MVP awards, 14 All-Star selections, two record-setting contracts and countless controversies later, A-Rod is the biggest and wealthiest target of an investigation into performance-enhancing drugs, with a decision from baseball Commissioner Bud Selig expected on Monday, Aug. 5, 2013. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)

FILE - In this Feb. 9, 2009, file still frame made from ESPN video, New York Yankees baseball player Alex Rodriguez is interviewed by ESPN's Peter Gammons. Rodriguez admitted during the interview that he used performance-enhancing drugs. Three MVP awards, 14 All-Star selections, two record-setting contracts and countless controversies later, A-Rod is the biggest and wealthiest target of an investigation into performance-enhancing drugs, with a decision from baseball Commissioner Bud Selig expected on Monday, Aug. 5, 2013. (AP Photo/ESPN, File) MANDATORY CREDIT

FILE - In this July 25, 2008, file photo, spectators hold up photos of Madonna as New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez waits in the on-deck circle during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park in Boston. Three MVP awards, 14 All-Star selections, two record-setting contracts and countless controversies later, A-Rod is the biggest and wealthiest target of an investigation into performance-enhancing drugs, with a decision from baseball Commissioner Bud Selig expected on Monday, Aug. 5, 2013. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)

FILE - In this July 14, 2008, file photo, New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez is surrounded by reporters during the Major League Baseball All-Star player media availability in New York. Three MVP awards, 14 All-Star selections, two record-setting contracts and countless controversies later, A-Rod is the biggest and wealthiest target of an investigation into performance-enhancing drugs, with a decision from baseball Commissioner Bud Selig expected on Monday, Aug. 5, 2013. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)

FILE - In this July 10, 2007, file photo, from left, American League's Michael Young, of the Texas Rangers, Alex Rodriguez, of the New York Yankees, Derek Jeter, of the New York Yankees, and Brian Roberts, of the Baltimore Orioles, laugh in the outfield before the All-Star baseball game in San Francisco. Three MVP awards, 14 All-Star selections, two record-setting contracts and countless controversies later, A-Rod is the biggest and wealthiest target of an investigation into performance-enhancing drugs, with a decision from baseball Commissioner Bud Selig expected on Monday, Aug. 5, 2013. (AP Photo/ Eric Risberg, File)

FILE - In this March 22, 2007, file photo, New York Yankees' Derek Jeter, left, and Alex Rodriguez stand around the batting cage before a spring training baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in Sarasota, Fla. Three MVP awards, 14 All-Star selections, two record-setting contracts and countless controversies later, A-Rod is the biggest and wealthiest target of an investigation into performance-enhancing drugs, with a decision from baseball Commissioner Bud Selig expected on Monday, Aug. 5, 2013. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

FILE - In this Jan. 25, 2004, file photo, Texas Rangers shortstop Alex Rodriguez poses with his agent Scott Boras in New York before the New York chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America dinner, where Rodriguez received the American League Most Valuable Player Award. Three MVP awards, 14 All-Star selections, two record-setting contracts and countless controversies later, A-Rod is the biggest and wealthiest target of an investigation into performance-enhancing drugs, with a decision from baseball Commissioner Bud Selig expected on Monday, Aug. 5, 2013. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)

FILE - In this Feb. 17, 2004, file photo, New York Yankees skipper Joe Torre puts a Yankees cap on the newest member of the team Alex Rodriguez as teammate Derek Jeter watches during a baseball news conference at Yankee Stadium in New York. Three MVP awards, 14 All-Star selections, two record-setting contracts and countless controversies later, A-Rod is the biggest and wealthiest target of an investigation into performance-enhancing drugs, with a decision from baseball Commissioner Bud Selig expected on Monday, Aug. 5, 2013. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File)

FILE - In this Sept. 2, 1993, file photo, Alex Rodriguez, No. 1 draft pick of the Seattle Mariners, stops to sign autographs after taking part in batting practice with the baseball team at the Kingdome in Seattle. Three MVP awards, 14 All-Star selections, two record-setting contracts and countless controversies later, A-Rod is the biggest and wealthiest target of an investigation into performance-enhancing drugs, with a decision from baseball Commissioner Bud Selig expected on Monday, Aug. 5, 2013. (AP Photo/Gary Stewart, File)

FILE - In this June 3, 1993, file photo, Alex Rodriguez listens on the telephone as the Seattle Mariners ask him to join their team as the No. 1 pick in the baseball draft amid cheers from his mother, Lourdes, left, and friends in Miami. Three MVP awards, 14 All-Star selections, two record-setting contracts and countless controversies later, A-Rod is the biggest and wealthiest target of an investigation into performance-enhancing drugs, with a decision from baseball Commissioner Bud Selig expected on Monday, Aug. 5, 2013. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier, File)

FILE- This 1990s file photo shows baseball player Alex Rodriguez when he played for Westminster Christian high school in Miami. Three MVP awards, 14 All-Star selections, two record-setting contracts and countless controversies later, A-Rod is the biggest and wealthiest target of an investigation into performance-enhancing drugs, with a decision from baseball Commissioner Bud Selig expected on Monday, Aug. 5, 2013. (AP Photo/Miami Herald, David Bergman, File)

"He has a great work ethic, humility, confidence," Rich Hofman said. "He'll be an example for Seattle and Major League Baseball. I hope success will not spoil that."

Three MVP awards, 14 All-Star selections, two record-setting contracts and countless controversies later, A-Rod has become baseball's marked man, the biggest and wealthiest target of an investigation into performance-enhancing drugs that's likely to culminate with a lengthy suspension Monday.

Instead of following the record-setting paths of Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron, Rodriguez even faces the outside chance he could wind up in permanent baseball exile along with Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson.

When Rodriguez first admitted in 2009 that he had used PEDs, he apologized repeatedly and called himself "young and stupid" three times.

"I'm in a position where I have to earn my trust back," he told a news conference at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla., back then. "The only thing I ask from this group today and the American people is to judge me from this day forward. That's all I can ask for."

Now 38, his rise and fall is water-cooler discussion across America.

Monday's decision by baseball Commissioner Bud Selig will define A-Rod's career, overshadowing his 647 home runs, his repeated postseason failures, his October of triumph in 2009 with the New York Yankees, even his romances with Madonna, Kate Hudson, Cameron Diaz and Torrie Wilson.

And it's not as if he is lacking in labels.

Teammates call him "A-Fraud" behind his back, according to a book by former manager Joe Torre.

Fans at ballparks hold up signs deriding him as "A-Roid" and "Cheater."

Throughout Rodriguez's 19 major league seasons, teammates have repeatedly praised his work ethic. He's the first player on the spring-training fields after daybreak, taking extra grounders, perfecting his craft.

At the same time they roll their eyes at his behavior, which is said to border on obsessive narcissism. He dresses in the back rooms of the clubhouse and emerges only when every hair is perfectly in place for the cameras and the collar of his leather jacket drapes just so.

Has any other athlete been photographed kissing his reflection in a mirror, as A-Rod was by Details magazine in 2009?

He didn't protest when he was photographed with a stripper at a Toronto hotel or reported to be at a swingers' club in Dallas and at an illegal poker club in New York.

But he did make fans grouse last year when his awful postseason slump didn't stop him from chatting up two women in seats behind the dugout at Yankee Stadium during a game.

Since Rodriguez joined the Yankees in 2004, he's never come to terms with why fans openly adore Derek Jeter and not him.

"Derek has four world championships and I want him to have 10," Rodriguez said at his introductory news conference. "That's what this is all about."

Once they were pals. But Jeter began to distance himself after Rodriguez was quoted in a 2001 Esquire article saying "Jeter's been blessed with great talent around him" and "he's never had to lead."

Then Rodriguez joined him on the Yankees in 2004. Unwanted by Texas, A-Rod pushed for a trade to Boston. When that fell through, he wanted New York — even agreeing to move from shortstop to third base because of Jeter.

A-Rod tried to make it appear they were still buddy-buddy. But by 2007, Rodriguez publicly conceded the friendship had faded.

"People start assuming that things are a lot worse than what they are, which they're not," A-Rod said. "But they're obviously not as great as they used to be. We were like blood brothers."

Attention on Rodriguez had increased exponentially when he signed a $252 million, 10-year deal with the Rangers before the 2001 season. But it wasn't enough.

After Rodriguez famously opted out of his contract during Boston's 2007 World Series win over Colorado, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman was prepared to let the then 32-year-old leave. Less than two months later, New York gave him an even more lucrative agreement: $275 million over 10 years.

But in the wake of Rodriguez's drug admission, the Yankees started to worry. And that was before his first major injury.

"He's a huge investment. So he's an asset, and this is an asset that's currently in crisis," Cashman said. "So we will do everything we can to protect that asset. ... If this is Humpty Dumpty, we've got to put him back together again, to get back up on the wall."

Rodriguez overcame right hip surgery that March and helped the Yankees to their first World Series title since 2000. As the music played loudly and a crowd christened the first season of the team's new ballpark with a championship, A-Rod thought back to that sorry day of apology in Tampa.

"I just knew then when I had the 25 guys there standing next to me, and organization and my general manager, they meant the world to me," he said. "I said that day that this is going to turn out to be maybe one of the most special years of our lives, and it sure has."

It remains to be seen whether many of those same people will distance themselves from him. People's opinions have changed. Rodriguez has changed.

"It's really difficult for people to understand what happens to a player or an athlete — I don't care if it's baseball, football, whatever — when they ascend to such a level," Hofman, the high school coach, said. "It's a very difficult position because the adulation is so great, and the need for it usually accompanies it."